The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-01-01

she pushed the minister aside roughly
and entered the house alone, leaving
Bid:d and the preacher alone on the
porch looking at Lutte as he walked
rapidly down the road toward old Tom
my's shoe shop.
AS Lite entered the shop he said to
Tommy: "Mr. Cassel, you mustn't 90 to
the watch-meetn' tonight, cause
want you here! Don't ask no questions, |
but be my friend for once and my new
year is happy one. "
"Tve allus been your friend, Lutte"
said Mr.. Cassel, as he peered up at the
young stage-driver over his steel-bowed
spectacles in astonishment, "but hain't
missed watchin' the new year in for
years and"
"But tonight you kin do somethin'
better n that" interrupted Lutte,
"Cause if you 90 to the meetin' house
you won't stan no show, cause that
little snip of preacher has fixed it all
up with Bildad Bennett to let Bildad
run the thing an leave you to look
on"
This argument clinched the thing,
for Tommy remarked that he didn't
care to 90 to place where 'mean ieal-
ousy runs things" and he promised
that he would "be at the shop all the
evenin'," if Lutte would only tell him
"what was up"
Cant do it, said Lutte; only, its a
case of life and death, and you're the
only man in town can do the thing up
right"
by eight o'clock that evening old
Tommy was smoking his pipe in his
shop as he sat looking out up the long
hill toward the meeting house which
stood in bold, bright relief in the bril-
liant light of a nearly full moon and a
perfectly clear sky. Presently, to pass
the time away while, waiting for Lute's
arrival, Tommy picked up a shoe and
began working at it. As he worked old
Hank Steele-for whom the landing
was named and who was noted as the
only iniidel in the county-esped the
light in Tommy's shop and entering
the'building was astOunded to find his
old friend at work. "What in thename
of all that's doin'," asked Hank, sis the
reason of this ere when they's a watch
meetin goin' on up to the meetin'
house?"
"It's an old boot Lutte Briggs wants
sure tomorrow mornin', " SAID Tommy
W tn quick wit, IAN sides l wasn't
feelin first class and thought I'd see if
couldn't work it off"
As the two old friends sat side by side
chatting they CHANGED to look out of the
window and up toward the church.
The half-mile roadway up the Hill lay
like a great white ribbon, wide, smooth
and shining in the moonlight, with
every tree and fence standing in black
and sharp contrast on either side as
though placed there to hold the ribbon
fast. Presently a black spot seemed tc
start from the top of the hill and fairly
fly toward the shop. AS itcame nearer
old Hank remarked:
Somebody slidin' down hill"
The instant Tommy remarked;
"Therc' two Of 'em on the sled. "
THAT mans Lutte Briggs or I'm
gopher" exclaimed Hank.
IAN III bet my best leg the gal
"Rushy Bennettn' said Tommy.
The two people on the hand-sled haC
raced with the wind and were the win
ners, for they made the half-mile slop,
in less than a minute, and the next in
slant, with very red checks, with waite
streaming from their eyes-the spec,
had been so great-and with unmistak
able signs of nervousness in their man
ner they entered the shop together.
Il told you it was a case of life o
death, - as he led his lady-love in, IAN
now we want you to marry us right of
You're the only man in town who ca
do it an there's nothin to bender you
dom it"
Both Tommy and Hank were speech
less with amazement, and Tommy wa
about to Offer some objection whe
Rusty said: You're a justice of tn
peace and you can do this for US, sure
Please hurry up, cause we amt &C
much time to spare"
and continued Lutte, "DIr. Steele
there, can be the witness"
I'D like to be a witness" said MI
Steele, ''if the marriage d be 'cordr
to law; but don't want to git in n
trouble
81 never do any thing gin the law,
replied old Tommy. "but l want {
know first, before l do this thing.
there any thing to prevent this ma
rage
Course there isn't" said Rush,
"lcss it is my father and that lit
preacher. Lutte an love each othe
and you're a justice. ~
, "And you both know us well, an
know we wouldn't lie, said Lutte
Better 90 ahead, y remarked Yam
"Stan' up" said Tommy, as he loo
Y ed out of the window as though tryir
4, to think of the form for the marrias
service. Il can't think what to say,
! he remarked.
T. "Say anything" cried Lutte AZ
n Rusty, impatently.
T. AN be quick bout it, cause the
r comes another sldin' -down-hill party,
2 remarked Hank.
S Sure enough, looking up the hill, Il
+ group in the little shoe shop and hall
e justice could see a second hand-sl,
II a.